Joey Chestnut wins eating contest with record 69 hot dogs

NEW YORK — Joey Chestnut downed 69 franks and devoured his own record in the men’s Fourth of July hot dog eating contest while Sonya Thomas defended her title in the women’s competition.

By Nick Divito

NEW YORK — JoeyChestnut downed 69 franks and devoured his own record in the men’s Fourth ofJuly hot dog eating contest while Sonya Thomas defended her title in the women’scompetition.

The San Jose, Calif.,man known as Jaws ate one more wiener than his previous record to capture themustard-yellow champion’s belt. He said afterward that he was motivated by theprestige, not the $10,000 prize money.

“I’d do thisfor nothing,” he said.

Thomas, a100-pound dynamo known as the “Black Widow” of competitive eating, wolfed downnearly 37 wieners to narrowly eke out her own victory.

Chestnut, 29,is a seven-time winner who set the old record — 68 hot dogs and buns in 10minutes — in 2009 and tied it last year. Thomas, 45, powered through 45 dogs totake the women’s championship last year and also won in 2011, the first yearwomen competed separately

Chestnut, whoweighs 210 pounds, had said his pace was uneven in the past, but “this year I’mtrying to eat a little more gracefully, conserve my energy.”

Second-placefinisher was Matt Stonie, who chomped down 51 hot dogs.

With this year’svictory, Chestnut has now bested his former rival, Takeru Kobayashi, who wonsix times. Kobayashi competed in a different eating contest Thursday.

Thomas said thechallenge of shoveling down dozens of franks is actually “more mental thanphysical.”

“I have tofight with myself, so I’m going to try to really focus,” said Thomas, of Alexandria, Va.,where she manages a fast-food restaurant.

Now in its 98thyear, the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contestdraws crowds of thousands to marvel at contestants cramming frankfurters downtheir throats.

Ginger Perry,47, of Obion County, Tenn.,said she and her family planned their New York City vacation around the contest after watchingit on TV in past years.

Perry wasimpressed that Coney Island has recovered sowell from being slammed by Superstorm Sandy last October. “It’s amazing to behere and that they rebuilt so quickly,” she said.

The hot dog contesttook place despite concerns about a swaying, shuttered observation tower thatspurred the closure of parts of the nearby amusement park. The shutdown didn’taffect Nathan’s, but Coney Island’s famousCyclone roller coaster and other rides were closed, and workers were using acrane to dismantle the tower.